Combination poncho and ground cloth



March 23 1926.- 1,577,586

l S. C. MOREHOUASE COMBINATION PoNcHo AND GROUND cLom Filed Oct. 1a, 192s A 3 sheets-'shut 1 :fria-. l

(i ,5l fv! a March 23,1926. 1,571,586

S.' C. MOREHOUSE COMBINATION PONCHO AND GROUND CLOTH Filed Oct. 18 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 7.

i JNVENTOR: ganan [Bg/yozeowe,

Patented Mar. 23, 1926.

unirse srarEs-f kPATENT oFFic sAMUEL o. ivionriiioesnon HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINATION PoNoiio A ND GROUND CLOTH( Application filed Gctober 18, 1923. Serial No. 669,431.

ter described which may be used as a poncho" whcnever it is desired to use it as such,

and which may be also used as a watei'piooty groundcloth to provide a dry sleeping or sitting surface for a soldier or camper during stormy oi' damp weather at night or in the day.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article oie the character described which may be converted into a dunnage or sleeping bag for the use and convenience of a soldier or camper in carrying his dunnage or sleeping outfit, and which, when not used i'or any ot the purposes stated, may be folded and secured in compact forni for storage, transportation or other purposes.

lVith those and other objects in view, the inrcntion Consists oi the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view looking toward Ithe inner side oic the outfolded article'.

Figure 2 is a similar View' showing the ground-clothportion of the saine in folded condition. y

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line S-S'of Figure 1.

Figure 3EL isa detail section showing a hollow rim `without the use -of an internal nir tube.

Figure 1,

Figure 5 Figure 2;

is. @i Secties 0.11: 't

lire lrf' Figure 6 isa view similar to Figure 1,

showing a modified form of construction.

Figures 7 and 8 are seotions'talren on the lines7-7` and 8 -8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 isa view showing theV article converted into a dunnage or similar bag.

Figure l0 is anV enlarged on line 10-1Oy offy Figure 9.

detail section Figure l1v is' a bottom plan view of the bagshown inl Figure 9.

Figure l2Y is: an enlarged detail section on line 12-12of Figure ll.

Figure 13 is a view show-ing the device as employed as a Hoor for a pup tent.

In carrying my invention into practice, l

provide an' article of the character described comprising a main member l, constituting the poncho proper, and which is, as usual, ofoblong rectangular form and made of a sheet of rubberized fabric or other suitable air and waterproof material.k This member l may be formed of a single. piece of the material orof two strips or pieces', as shown,

united along the longitudinal seam' line 2.

The memberv or poncho lis provided at or near the transverse center thereof with a central horizontal transverse slit or opening 3, through which the wearer passes his head in fitting the poncho upon his person for use. The outer or rear face of the member l is provided with the usual poncho collar 4,.

which may be of the ordinary or any approved' form and construction. rilhe poncho,

the respective portions 5 and 6 of the pencha ony opposite sides of said line that, forming the front and bac-lrv portions of the garment when applied for use. The opposite marginal longitudinal side edge-s' 7 and 8 of the portion 'are'respectii-'ely provided with fasteningfbuttons 9 and-button--holesl()` and the i transverse marginaledge 11 of said portion 5 is' proif'idedwiitli a continuous r'owo but tonsh'oles'l. Astrip 13 is secured along 'its' Y edge to the po'rtioi'i'fpaiallel with'A the edge portion 47 and fove'r'lying the saine, and said sprovide-df with button-lio 9i There 6 is provided on opposite sides of the. longitudinal center oit its transverse edge with separate marginal portions 1l and 15 respectively provided with button-holes 1G and buttons 1T, the marginal portion 14e extending beyond the line ot the marginal portion 15, andsaid portion 15 as shown, having secured thereto a parallel strip 15 similar to the strip 13 provided with buttonholes 16 in alinement with the buttons 17. rFliese fastening buttons and button-holes are provided for securing the body member or poncho 1 in various folded or other conditions in the. different uses ot the device, as hereinafter fully described. The purposes ot strips 13 and '15 will le hereinafter described. Y

Provided upon the inner side ot the hack hall" or portion G of the member 1 is a, ground cloth section or ground mat made up of a pair ot" :fabric strips 18 and 19 and a rim portion Q0, together with the section ot the fabric composing the poncho portion G lying between and bounded by the strips 18 and 19 and the sides of the rim 20. The ground cloth or mat section as thus formed extends transversely ot the poncho portion G and, when in outspread condition, is ot greater length than the width of said poncho portion and entends at each end beyond the side edges thereof. The separate strips 1S and 19 are employed, as shown, in order to reduce the amount ot material used and to lighten the weight of the article, but ot course there may he substituted tor these strips a continuous strip of tabric extending` the t'ull length ot the space bounded by the rim 20. The strips 18 and 19 are stitched or otherwise secured at their inner marginal edges to the poncho portion 6 along the lines 21 and 22, leaving 'said strips otherwise free so that said strips, with the portions ot the rim 2O caried thereby, torn'iing the projecting iiree ends of the grouixd n'iat section, may be 'folded inwardly and outwardly, as hereinafter described. The rim may be inode, as shown in vFigures 1, il, and el, oit' a stripot fabricI marginall;v secured, as at 23, to the strips 18 and and to the body ofthe poncho section (i, so as to p:ovi l 4 an intlatablo rim channel bounding the surrounding space and of which the undcr-halt will he ilo-rnied hy the 'fabric ol" the ground-cloth and which will entend a distance ot Several inches above the rame when in inflated condition. A tube ill; is provided whereby the hollow rini in .y be ini'iatcd with air whenever desired and rsh-.ereA bj the air may be allowed to erhanshto adapt said hollow rim to collapse substantially in a tlat condition. The head end ot" the grouinl-cloth, to wit, that end ot which the strip 18 forms a part, is shown as square or having its transverse edge straight and parallel with the adjoiningside oft :tinepony cho clot-h, while the other or toot end ot the ground-cloth, ot which the strip 19 t'o-rins a part, is shown being oit' triangular forni, in which forni it may he made when it is desired to employ the groundcloth as a mattress or tloor covering 'lier a speciiied type ot army tent. The head and toot sections ot the ground-cloth are capable, when the rim 20 is deflated, ot being 'folded inwardly over upon the poncho section G, as fully shown in Figure and suitable tastenings are provided :tor holding the same in this condition. lhese tastenings may consist ot thongs or straps 24', on the outer faces ol the strips 18 and 1S), adapted to pass through loops on the intermediate portion ot the ground-cloth formed by the poncho section 6, and tied or otherwise se cured, to hold the folded portions ot' t ground-cloth in such condition against' displacement. lVhen the device is telde'1 and applied for use as a poncho,` as deW d, the side edges et the folded device may oo united, if the wearer so desires in order to better protect his person, by engaging one or more ot the buttons 9 at one side edge oli the back 6 with registering button-holes I' in the flap 13 of the similar side edge et the front poncho section 5, and uniting the opposite side edges of the portions 5 and G by engaging tie cords or the like with registering openings 10 of said portions.

ln Figures G, 7 and 8, I have shown a modiiiedt'orm of roy invention in which l have disclosed a ditlerent manner ot applying the inflatable rim and in which l have also shown an added pillow feature which may be employed. The rim 20" in this construction is complete in itself, being torined et a complete strip having its edges overlapped and united by stitching to the cloth oli the poncho section, as at Q3, Figure 8, that a tubular member torined separate from the poncho cloth but secured thereto is provided capable ot being inflated and dctlated. The pillow feature herein. shown consists of a section ot i'abric 25 superimposed upon the strip 1S and secured around its margins thereto and to the rini portion so as to provide therewith an air chainher capable olf' being inflated and deliated to serve as a pneiunatie pillow at the head end ot the ground-clotl'i or mattress. This pillow may be inflated by means of; an intlating tube separate from the rim, or it may cour niunicate with the rhn and be inflated and deflated therewith.

Figure 1 shows the combination aagle outspread, in which condition it ma;v be cnn ployed by a soldier or can'iper to cover the ground and to provide a dry sleeping or sitting surface tor the soldier or camper during stormy or damp weather at night or in the day. Tilhen-so disposed, the groundcloth portion may be employed a mattress llt) 1. Au article of the character described comprising a substantially oblong rectangular sheet of Water-proof material provided with a central transverse neck slit and adapted to be folded along a transverse line coincident with the slit to forni the shoulder portions and the front and back port-ions ot a. poncho, a ground cloth extending transversely et the inner side ot the back section et' the poncho between said neck slit and the transverse edge oit said poncho portion, said cloth including a helloiv inflatable riin and end portions adapted to be extended bevond the longitudinal edges et the sheet and to be 'folded baclivaidlv7 upon themselves and over upon said sheet, the longitudinal side edges of the sheetbeing .provided with suitable nieans vvhereby similar edges ot said poncho portions niaY be united when the sheet is folded into poncho forming condition.

An article oi the character described comprising|` a substantislipv oblong rectangular sheet having); a central transv e noch slit and. adapted to be folded upon. :i transverse line coinciding with said slit to .torni the shoulder portions and `the front and bach portions et a poncho, a ground cloth torining a tlexible bed section extending transversely et the inner side et the poncho back torining portion et the sheet between the neck slit and the transverse outer edge et said portion` said cloth including` a holloiv intlatable riin and end portions adapted to be extended bevond the sides ot the poncho and to be folded baekivardly over upon themselves and upon the sheet bodv, and iiieaiis fior securingl said end portions: in tolded condition7 the longitudinal side edges et the sheet being` provided with fasteningineaiis and the end edge et the poncho back l1 i i portion of the sheet havingl divided extending' one beyond the other7 l sections being); adapted tor lappingv engi'ag'en'ient and being provided with tastening ineans tor engagement with each other.

S. iin article ot the character described comprising a substantially oblong rectangular sheet having a central transverse neel; snit and itoldable alone` a transverse line coinciding with said slit to torni the shoulder portions und the iront and back portions ot a poncho. a ground cloth iorniing a ilexible bed section extending transversely ol" flic inner surface ot the poncho bach torining;` portion ot the sheet betiveen said transw verse slit and the outer transverse edge ot said poncho portion` said cloth including strips secured at their inner edges at opposite sides ot the sheet and an intervening;`

portion of the sheet body, together with a vthereto adapted te be extended beyond the sides et the sheet and to be 'folded inwardly upon themselves and upon the intervenii'ig` portion of the sheet body, ineans for securingl said strips and port-ions et the hollow rin'i carried thereby in folded condition, and fasteningv means along the longitudinal side edges ot the sheet7 whereby sin'iilar side edges ot the poncho front and back forming` pertions et the sheet may be united when said sheet .is folded to forni a poncho.

An article et the character described coniprisii'ig a substantially oblong rectangular sheet havinga cent-ral transverse slit and adapted to be folded transversely along the line et the slit to forni the shoulder pertions and 'trent and back portions elf a ponche7 a ground cloth extending transversely ot the inner surface et the poncho back forming portion or" the sheet betive-cn said neck slit and the end edge of said poncho terining' portion oli the sheet, said cloth including a hollorv inlird'iblc` riin and end portions adapted to be extended beyond the side et the, sheet and te be folded inwardly over upon. themselves and upon the intervening portion ot the ground cloth. and ineens t'or holdingsaid foldingv ground cloth portions in toloed condition, one longitudinal edge ot' the sheet being provided ivith u continuous roiv et button-holes and the other longitudinal edge et the sheet being provided with a continuous roiv of buttons and a flap liavinl a continuous rod oi buttonholes registering therewith, and the said poncho back refiningI portion ot the sheet having its outer edge divided and forming sections extending one beyond the other, the shorter oil said sections being provided with a roiv otbuttons and a tlap having a coactin@` row ot' button-holes, and the longer et said sections being' adapted to be .inserted edgeivise betvveen the lirst-nanied seetion and its ''lap and being provided with buttonlioles for coaction with the buttons and button-holes thereof.

5. An article ot the character described comprising a substantially oblongl rectai'ijijulai' sheet having` a central transverse neel: slit and adapted to be folded transversely along the line ot said slit to 'torni the shoulder portie s and the front and back portions ot a poncho` a fri-oeuil cloth loininej a {lexible bed section t aiding' transversely olI vthe. inner surface el" the poncho baril( forming portirni o t the :dieet between s id transverse neel: slit :ind the end edge or I"id portion et the sheet, raid cloth iucludingij :i hollow inliatfible rini and end portions adapted lo be extended bevond the sides et the ,sheet and to be folded inwardly over upon then:- selves and upon the intervening portion ot the ground cloth, the said outer end edge et the poncho forming bach portion ei the sheet having divided sections, one extending beyond, the other, a row of eyelets upon the llO longer end section, a row of buttons upon the shorter end section, a flap upon said shorterA end section provided with u ron7 of eyelets, u row ot' eyelets extending continuously along' one of the longitudinal edges of tlie. sheet, a row oil buttons'extending; Continuously beyond tlie other longitudinal edge ot the sheet, a flap overlying tlie litten named longitudinal edge ot the sheet and provided with eyelets registering With said 10 buttons, Aand a continuous row of eyelets extending' along' t-lie outer edge of the ponclio front forming portion of the sheet.

In testimony whereof affix my signature.

SAMUEL Monnnoiisn. 

